Dracula was in the front of the classroom teaching his favorite subject—Humanology. Students were listening attentively. Clawdeen was doodling in her notebook. Webby, Draculaura’s pet spider, was sitting on the top of Dracula’s desk.
Dracula gestured toward Webby. “But while all of us monsters find spiders like Webby here to be charming and wonderful creatures…”
Webby blushed modestly and covered his face with one of his legs.
Dracula continued his lecture. “Still, it is important to remember that whenever humans see a spider, they do this…”
Dracula dramatically cleared his throat before demonstrating the usual human reaction to seeing a spider. He freaked out. He screamed, he ran around in circles, he waved his hands over his head. “AHHHHHHH!”
The students watched thoughtfully and took careful notes. They couldn’t believe it. How could anyone be frightened of Webby? Human beings were so strange.
Dracula stopped and composed himself. He smoothed his hair back into place. “Any questions?”
Deuce was scribbling away as fast as he could. He read over his notes. “Ahhhhh. Got it.”
“Very good.” Dracula said, nodding. “Then we’re moving on to our next Humanology subject.” He walked across the room and flicked off the light switch. “Darkness!”
Dracula turned the light back on. “Now, who can tell me what human beings think about the dark?”
Hands flew up in the air.
“I know! I know!” called Draculaura, jumping up and down in her seat.
“Oh yeah! Yeah!” Even Webby knew the answer.
Dracula surveyed the room of eager students. There was only one who didn’t have her hand up. “Clawdeen Wolf?”
Clawdeen blinked. She stammered. She was caught off guard. She hadn’t been paying attention. At all. She looked up from her sketch pad. “Huh? Oh—um—they think it’s clawesome? Because it is?”
“Absolutely wrong.” Dracula shook his head. “Humans are scared of the dark.”
The class burst out laughing. Moanica, who was sitting back in her seat with her feet up on her desk, snickered. How could humans be afraid of the dark?
“What’s to be scared of?” said Venus out loud. She was genuinely curious.
“Look out! There’s some darkness behind you!” Deuce guffawed. “Ahhh!”
Dracula waited a moment for the monsters to settle down. “Yes, yes, I know it’s peculiar, but it’s true. Humans cannot see in the dark like vampires and werewolves.”
Moanica, who had been disinterested until now, leaned forward in her seat. “Normies are afraid of the dark…” she said to herself. Her brow was furrowed. She was thinking hard. “Now that is interesting.”
Rayth raised his hand. “Professor Dracula? If the humans are so scared, why don’t they just suck up a lightbulb like Gob?”
With that as a cue, Gob produced a lightbulb and gobbled it up. His whole blobby body glowed! The class burst out laughing—except for Draculaura.
“Listen up,” she told her friends. “You mansters and ghouls need to take this seriously. We must learn about humans so that one day we can live together happily.”
“Ha!” Moanica stood up in the back of the room. The Zomboyz followed her reluctantly—they were her minions, after all, and they were obedient. “I say we should learn about Normies so that we can get back at them for making us hide in the first place.” She put her hand on her hip defiantly.
“Moanica,” Dracula reprimanded her. “Please take your seat so that we can continue the lecture.”
But she ignored the teacher. “I’ve already heard plenty, Professor Dracula.” She rudely examined her fingernails, not even looking him in the eye. “And thank you for the lesson,” she said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “It was…enlightening.” She strode right past Dracula and headed toward the classroom door. Embarrassed, the Zomboyz staggered after her.
As she exited, she clicked off the lights, and the whole room went dark. Except for the green glow from Gob’s stomach.
“Whoa!”
“What’s going on?”
“Is class over?” someone whispered.
“No!” answered Dracula, confused. Why had Moanica left? What a strange student she was, even for a monster!